06 July 2011

Marsh Hawk's-beard above Pontneddfechan

Marsh Hawk's-beard below Sgwd Gwladys (VC42)

Pontneddfechan is at the southern-most limit of the UK disturibution of Marsh Hawk's-beard (Crepis paludosa). Last week Charles Hipkin kindly showed me a good number plants growing on the Breconshire side of the Afon Pyrddin immediately below Sgwd Gwladys along with many other noteworthy plants such as
Five-ranked Bog-moss (Sphagnum quinquefarium)
Golden-head Moss (Breutelia chrysocoma)
Summer-moss (Anoectangium aestivum)
Beech-fern (Phegopteris connectilis)
Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis)
Welsh Poppy (Meconopsis cambrica) at what possibly the only native site in the county.
Whilst not overtly showy, this green and gloomy world of ferns and mosses has a mystical beauty about it, enhanced even more when everything is dripping wet, as was the case last week!

Despite the rain we did manage to find a few patches of Marsh Hawk's-beard on the Neath Port Talbot side of the Afon Nedd between the confluence at Pwll Du ar Byrddin and Pontneddfechan.